HOW TO USE LUTS IN PREMIERE PRO?
LUTs, or Look-Up Tables, play a vital role in video editing by providing instant color grading solutions without the need for labor-intensive manual adjustments. These pre-configured color profiles allow you to apply professional color treatments to your footage with just a few clicks, making it easier to establish a consistent and eye-catching aesthetic. By mastering the use of LUTs in Premiere Pro, you can dramatically speed up your color grading process and enhance the look and feel of your videos.
When you understand how LUTs function, you gain more control over storytelling and visual style. LUTs not only simplify the editing workflow but also ensure your finished projects have a polished and cohesive visual appeal that meets modern professional standards.
HOW TO ADD LUTS IN PREMIERE PRO
Before you start applying LUTs to your footage, you will need to add them to Premiere Pro. LUTs are available in a variety of formats, with both free and premium options readily found online. To integrate LUTs into your project, launch Premiere Pro and navigate to the Lumetri Color panel. Within the Basic Correction section, locate the Input LUT dropdown menu. Select Browse and point to your saved LUT file—once you choose the LUT, it is immediately applied to the selected clip in your timeline.
This direct workflow streamlines the process of adding looks to your footage and saves time during editing. You can repeat this process with different LUTs until you find the one that matches your project’s mood or desired aesthetic. Organizing your LUT files in clearly labeled folders can speed up your workflow and help you quickly test different looks as you edit. If you frequently work with the same color profiles, consider maintaining a dedicated folder for your go-to LUTs for efficiency. By strategically adding LUTs, you can maintain creative momentum and never lose sight of your project’s visual direction.
COLOR CORRECTION AND CREATIVE LOOKS WITH LUTS
LUTs serve two main purposes in video editing: they are excellent for both technical color correction and for creating artistic looks. While some LUTs are designed to accurately correct footage captured in formats like LOG or flat color profiles, others are intended to add a specific mood, such as a “teal and orange” blockbuster style or black-and-white vintage tones. With the Lumetri Color panel, you have precise control over LUT intensity, allowing you to fine-tune the strength of the effect until it feels just right for your footage.
Premiere Pro enables further creative freedom by letting you assign different LUTs to different clips within the same sequence. This method is helpful when working on projects made from footage shot in various lighting conditions or with different cameras, as you can harmonize the look and maintain visual continuity across every scene. The flexibility to adjust and layer LUTs per clip means your final video will be visually engaging and cohesive while supporting the narrative with appropriate color emotional cues.
MAKING AND EXPORTING CUSTOM LUTS
Crafting your own LUTs in Premiere Pro gives you the ability to create a distinct visual signature for your projects. Start by customizing your clip’s look using the sliders for exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, and saturation within the Lumetri Color panel. Once you’re happy with your adjustments, click the three-dot menu and select Export LUT to save your custom grade as a new LUT file that you can use in future projects.
Having a set of custom LUTs is especially useful for editors who want to speed up their workflow while keeping a recognizable style. You can also share these LUTs with other editors or collaborators, ensuring a cohesive appearance across multiple projects. By building your own LUT library, you develop a visual shorthand that saves time and reinforces your brand or narrative identity. The export process is quick, and the benefits extend to any editing environment that supports standard LUT formats.
BEST PRACTICES FOR USING LUTS EFFICIENTLY
To maximize efficiency and maintain an organized project, consider using adjustment layers when applying LUTs. Placing a LUT on an adjustment layer allows you to affect all clips beneath the layer without altering them individually. This approach not only speeds up your editing process but also keeps your timeline orderly—especially helpful for complex projects with multiple sequences. Moreover, when working with footage from different cameras or sources, LUTs can standardize color profiles so your scenes flow smoothly together.
Here are a few key strategies to get the most from LUTs in your Premiere Pro workflow:
• Apply LUTs early to serve as a color baseline, then refine using color wheels, curves, or individual adjustments as needed.
• Use lower intensity settings as a starting point and increase gradually for best results.
• Maintain organized folders for your LUT collection, separating technical correction LUTs from creative look LUTs.
• Combine LUTs with manual color grading tools for more nuanced and dynamic visuals.
• Preview your video on multiple screens or monitors to ensure consistent color representation.
INTEGRATING ADVANCED GRADING TOOLS
Effective color grading often involves combining LUTs with Premiere Pro’s advanced features. After applying a LUT, use the Lumetri Color panel to refine shadows, highlights, and white balance, enhancing both depth and mood in your shots. Grouping related clips and adding LUTs to grouped adjustment layers keeps your grades consistent and enables you to scale your editing workflow without sacrificing control. Experimenting with combinations of LUTs and manual corrections also opens the door to unique, custom results. With layering and grouped adjustments, you can efficiently manage large projects while achieving a high level of creative and technical precision.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Understanding how to use LUTs in Premiere Pro is a powerful way to upgrade your color grading workflow. LUTs let you experiment with looks, set a consistent tone, and save valuable editing time. Remember to use them as a starting point and fine-tune with other color tools for best results. By combining organization, adjustment layers, and custom LUT creation, you set yourself up for visual success in every project. Practice and exploration will help you master these tools and achieve truly professional color in your videos.
